Closure unit, mold for producing same, and dispenser-container incorporating a closure unit

ABSTRACT

A closure unit for selectively closing a package of wipes or the like is formed as an integral unit typically in or close to the closed position, and has a flap hinged with respect to a frame defining an opening for enabling dispensing of the wipes or the like therethrough. Break lines between the flap and the frame enable the flap to be torn from the frame at first use, and suitable positive locking means enable the flap to be reclosed with respect to the frame. The structure of the unit is such that no portion of the flap substantially overlaps any portion of the frame when the unit is initially formed, and thus then unit may be formed in or close to the closed position, particularly from sheet material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a closure unit for use with a dispensingpackage, in particular such a package that is adapted for containing anddispensing articles, especially tissues or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages for articles such as tissues are well known in the art. Sucharticles may be supplied dry or soaked/impregnated in liquid or lotione.g. a cleaning agent, a solvent, a skin treating preparation, etc. Mostcontainers for such articles typically are in soft-pack form or in boxform, i.e. in the shape of a parallelepiped or cylindrical (e.g. in thecase of separably connected tissues in a reel).

Typically, tissues have a generally rectangular shape and are suppliedas separably connected sheets, or interleaved or inter folded discretesheets stacked in a variety of different configurations, to facilitatethe so-called pop-up effect, where each tissue has a leading portionthat is first to pass through the opening, and a trailing portion thatlater passes through the opening i.e. a leading tissue removed from apackage drags a leading edge of a sequential tissue into a standbyposition so it extends at a convenient removal position. In otherdispensers, the tissues are simply stacked one over the other, and theuser has to reach into the package each time to grasp new tissue.

A common arrangement is to provide a narrow dispensing opening throughwhich the tissues are pulled, one at a time, by the user. While thenarrowness of the opening facilitates the sequential dispensing ofadjacent tissues, it is often desired for such packages to be reversiblysealable to maintain freshness and moisture in the package when notbeing used, and to prevent dirt and foreign matter from entering thepackage at such times.

According to some arrangements a closure unit comprises a frame defininga narrow dispensing opening is provided by means of two or more flapsprojecting towards each other, leaving an interstice therebetween, wherethe surfaces may be deformed to allow a user to introduce his/herfingers there through, so as to pull the leading edge of the firsttissue. This however, is inconvenient and may even result in injury ofthe users fingers. A flap made from a rigid or semi rigid plasticmaterial reversibly closes with respect to the frame.

Other arrangements are disclosed in some U.S. patents, for example:

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,465, a wipe package uses a known example of aconventional opening- and closing-cover label detachably attached to themain package body. The label is partially peeled away to reveal theopening, enabling the user to take out a tissue, and the label isreattached to the package. An adhesive layer on the label enablesreattachment of the label. However, after repeated use, moisture fromthe tissues, and/or dirt or other foreign matter can adhere to theadhesive surface of the label, and severely reduce the adhesivenessthereof. Moreover, each time the label is attached, the leading tissuehas to be fully inserted in the package.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,575 a resealable dispenser-container for wettissues comprises a container comprising wet tissues, and a tray member,made of a material harder than the container. The container has at a topsurface thereof an opening for dispensing the wet tissues therethroughor a weakened line for forming the opening and a flap made of a flexiblesheet material which covers the opening or weakened line and which isrepeatedly opened and closed. The tray member is disposed within thecontainer between an inner side of the top surface of the container andthe wet tissues and having a recessed portion. The recessed portion hasan opening formed at a bottom thereof. The tray member is fixed to theinner side of the top surface or side surface of the container.

In WO 02/058524, a storage and dispensing package for wipes comprises anon-rigid container having sides which define a cavity. Acollapsible-expandable baffle structure having a width is positionedwithin the sides of the container and divides the cavity into a storageportion for wipes and a dispensing portion. The baffle structureincludes a dispensing orifice through which wipes can pass andcommunicate with the dispensing portion. A zipper-like resealablemechanism can also be included at an end of the package.

In WO 03/076298, a dispenser for wet wipes has a relatively stiffplastics material body with a peripheral mounting flange for attachmentto a pack of wipes, and a tear-open closure is integrally formed withthe body. The closure is mounted at an opening in the body across whichis stretched a silicone membrane having a circular dispensing openingthrough which wipes are dispensed from a flow-wrap pack of wipes onwhich the dispenser is mounted. A portion of the periphery of theclosure is tearable away from the body by means of a tab, leaving theclosure attached to the body by a hinge. The tab overlies at least asubstantial part of the body, requiring difficult and expensiveinjection molding techniques for its production, if at all available,resulting overall in an expensive dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a closure unit for a dispensingcontainer or package is provided. The dispensing container comprises aflap member pivotably connected to a frame member (defining an opening)via hinge arrangement, wherein said closure member is formed having theflap member initially at a forming angle α with respect to the framemember, taken about the hinge arrangement, such that angle α issubstantially equal to or greater than 0° and substantially less than180°.

In particular, the flap member is initially formed at said forming angleα with respect to said frame member, such that no portion of said flapmember substantially overlaps with said frame member, particularly in adirection substantially perpendicular to a plane comprising said framemember. Indeed, the flap member is initially formed at said formingangle α with respect to said frame member, such that no portion of saidclosure unit substantially overlaps with any other portion of saidclosure unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to a planecomprising said frame member, taking into account the resilience of thematerial from which the unit is formed.

By a lack of overlapping referred to above is meant that, dividing theclosure unit into a plurality of imaginary elements along the uppersurface of the unit, for example, such that each element, while beingdimensionally small with respect to said upper surface, extends throughthe thickness of the unit up to the lower surface thereof in apreferably vertical direction, no such element will be substantiallysuperposed over another such element. In some embodiments, a limitedamount of overlapping in the vertical direction, between parts of theflap and the frame, may be possible due to the resilience of thematerial from which the closure unit is made. Such a material typicallycomprises a plastic, which can deform to a limited degree when force isapplied. Thus, although the parts of the molds required for the moldingof the overlapping portions also overlap, once cooled the closure unitcan be removed from the mold by forcing a partial and temporarydeformation of the overlapping parts to free these components from themolds.

Thus when referring herein to one component as not substantiallyoverlapping with respect to another component, this is herein taken toinclude the plain meaning, wherein there is no actual overlapping, andalso to optionally include cases wherein there is a limited amount ofactual overlapping, but such as still permits the closure unit to beremoved from the mold by making use of the resilience of the materialfrom which the closure unit is made to maneuver the overlapping partsaround parts of the molds to enable the closure unit to be freedtherefrom.

Typically, the overlapping portions between the flap and frame mayrepresent a plan area that is between 0-5% of the plan area of theclosure unit, more typically less than 1% thereof.

In some embodiments, steep surfaces which are at an acute but smallangle are also considered as not effectively overlapping, since theresilience of the material from which the closure unit is formed enablesthe same to be removed from the mould, as explained above, mutatismutandis.

In some embodiments, angle α is substantially 0°, and the unit isinitially formed with said flap member in a substantially closedposition. The flap member is adapted to be detached from said framemember about a portion of a periphery of said flap member such as toenable said flap member to pivot with respect to said frame member viasaid hinge arrangement between a closed and an open position.

Typically, the flap member comprises a box-like structure, having anupper panel and front, side and rear walls extending therefrom to saidborder strip. The hinge arrangement comprises a movable first hingeportion that is comprised on a mid section of said rear wall, and astatic second hinge portion that forms part of mid section of the innerbase strip. The first hinge portion pivots with respect to the staticsecond hinge portion via a hinge axis. The flap member comprises atleast two projections for maintaining the flap member in the openposition: at least one said projection is located at either side of thefirst hinge portion. The hinge arrangement may comprise any one of anintegral hinge, a film hinge, or a non-integral hinge.

Optionally, the frame member comprises a raised rib structure formechanically stiffening said unit. The rib structure typically comprisesa substantially hollow inverted U-shaped cross-section.

The flap member is temporarily joined to said frame member via breaklines prior to a first use of said closure unit, wherein said breaklines are adapted for tearing when said flap member is pulled from saidframe member with a predetermined force, and the break lines aretypically pre-weakened with respect to the frame member and the flapmember. Optionally, the break lines comprise perforations.

In some of the embodiments, the frame member substantially circumscribessaid flap member, and the frame member is formed having a foldable tabprojecting from said frame member in a longitudinal direction opposed tosaid flap member and hinge arrangement, said foldable tab being foldableabout a hinge line to a position wherein a portion of said frame memberis superposed with respect to said foldable tab.

In one such embodiment, the foldable tab comprises a lockingarrangement, which may comprise at least one first latching memberadapted for engagement with a corresponding second latching membercomprised in said flap member. The first latching member is typicallyadapted for being reversibly locked with respect to said second latchingmember. Optionally, the first latching member comprises a protrusion ofincreasing cross-section in a direction away from said frame member whenin the closed position and wherein said second latching member comprisesa recess of increasing cross-section in a direction away from said framemember when in the closed position, at least a portion of said recessbeing complementary to a portion of said protrusion. At least one ofsaid portion of said recess and said portion of said protrusion areelastically deformable to permit selective locking of said firstlatching member with said second latching member.

The flap further comprises a finger grasping portion, wherein saidclosure unit is initially formed in a manner such that substantially nopart of said finger grasping portion substantially overlaps any part ofsaid frame member in a direction substantially perpendicular to saidopening.

In another embodiment, the dispensing container comprises a flap memberpivotably connected to a frame member via hinge arrangement, whereinsaid frame member comprises an opening adapted for accommodating apulling tab joined to said flap member. The frame member comprises abreak therein adapted for accommodating a bridge joining a tab to saidflap member, said tab comprising a locking arrangement, which in turncomprises first locking means for locking said tab member with respectto said bridge, and second locking means for reversibly locking saidflap member with respect to said frame member.

The bridge comprises a fold line for folding said tab member over saidbridge to provide locking engagement for said first locking means, andsaid first locking means comprises suitable first male locking partscomprised on said bridge, and first female locking parts comprised onsaid tab member.

The bridge and the tab are each temporarily joined to said frame membervia break lines prior to a first use of said closure unit, wherein saidbreak lines are adapted for tearing when said bridge and tab,respectively, are pulled from said frame member with a predeterminedforce.

In this embodiment, the frame member is in the form of a “C” and saidopening is located between the open ends of said “C”. The said hingearrangement may comprise an integral hinge, or a film hinge, or anon-integral hinge. Optionally, the frame member comprises a raised ribstructure joined to an outer base strip and an inner base strip thatcircumscribe the outer and inner peripheries, respectively, of the ribstructure. The rib structure may comprise a substantially solidcross-section, or alternatively a substantially hollow inverted U-shapedcross-section. Preferably, the frame member further comprises extensionsat the said open ends thereof; the flap member comprises a border stripthat circumscribes the periphery thereof, and the flap member comprisesa box-like structure, having an upper panel and front, side and rearwalls extending therefrom to said border strip. Preferably, the flapmember comprises a finger-grasping portion in the form of a recess onsaid front wall thereof.

The hinge arrangement comprises a movable first hinge portion that formspart of the border strip adjacent a mid section of said rear wall, and astatic second hinge portion that forms part of mid section of the innerbase strip. The first hinge portion pivots with respect to the staticsecond hinge portion via a hinge axis. Preferably, the flap membercomprises at least two projections for maintaining the flap member inthe open position. At least one said projection is located at eitherside of the first hinge portion.

The pulling tab comprises a locking arrangement. In this embodiment, thelocking arrangement comprises a tab member joined to said bridge, firstlocking means for locking said tab member with respect to said bridge,and second locking means for reversibly locking said flap member withrespect to said frame member. The bridge comprises a fold line forfolding said tab member over said bridge to provide locking engagementfor said fist locking means. The first locking means comprises suitablefirst male locking parts comprised on said bridge, and first femalelocking parts comprised on said tab member. The first female partscomprise a first recess and said first male locking parts comprise firstprojections that are adapted for locking engagement with said firstrecess. The second locking means comprises suitable second male lockingparts comprised on each said extension, and second female locking partscomprised on said tab member. The second female parts comprise secondrecesses and said second male locking parts comprise second projectionsthat are adapted for locking engagement with said second recesses. Thesecond recesses are located at least one thereof on either side of saidfirst recess. Preferably, the first recess and said second recesses arecontinuously provided in said tab member.

The flap member is temporarily joined to said frame member via breaklines prior to a first use, wherein said break lines are adapted fortearing when said flap member is pulled from said frame member with apredetermined force. The break lines are comprised between said innerbase strip and said border strip. The break lines are further comprisedbetween said bridge and said extensions. The break lines arepre-weakened with respect to the frame member and the flap member. Thebreak lines optionally comprise perforations.

Optionally, the frame member comprises a lower adhesive layer foradhering the unit to a suitable container or the like. Furtheroptionally, the unit comprises a removable protective strip fortemporarily covering said adhesive layer.

Preferably, the closure unit is formed as an integral unit. Optionally,the unit is formed from a sheet material. The sheet material has athickness that may be substantially uniform, or may vary as desired.Optionally, the unit is formed as a vacuum-formed or heat formedarticle. Alternatively, the unit is formed by a mold injection process.

The present invention is also directed to a mold arrangement forproducing a closure unit, wherein the closure unit is as defined herein,in particular according to any one of the embodiments described herein.The mold may be adapted for vacuum forming or for heat forming, or forthe injection of plastic material.

The present invention is also directed to a dispenser-container fordispensing a plurality of tissues or the like sequentially, comprising acontainer having a dispensing opening for removing said tissues, andfurther comprising a closure unit according to the present invention,fixed to said container in overlaying relationship with respect to theopening, such that when the closure unit is in the open position theopening is accessible, and when the closure unit is closed the openingis substantially sealed, from an outside of said dispenser-container. By“sealed”, “sealingly” and so on, is meant that while a air tight orliquid tight closure is preferred, these terms also refer to any degreeof closure between provided by the closure unit, in particular betweenthe flap and the frame member, such that foreign matter is at least byan large prevented from entering the opening of the container, and atthe same time, evaporation of fluids from the container is substantiallyslowed down during a typical life-cycle of a container.

Typically, the container is a flexible container, and the closure unitis made from a material having greater stiffness than that of thematerial from which the container is made. Alternatively, the containeris a substantially rigid container.

The present invention is also directed to a closure unit for adispenser-container, comprising a frame member defining an opening and aflap member for selectively closing said opening, said flap member beinginitially formed with said frame member in a substantially closedposition and adapted to be detached from said frame member about aportion of a periphery of said flap such as to enable said flap to pivotwith respect to said frame member via a hinge arrangement between aclosed and an open position, wherein said closure unit is initiallyformed from suitable sheet material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carriedout in practice, some embodiments will now be described, by way ofnon-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fitted witha closure unit according to the first embodiment of the invention,before first use of the dispenser-container;

FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the closure unit in anormally closed position;

FIG. 3 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the closure unit in anormally opened position;

FIG. 4 illustrates in plan view the closure unit of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates in fragmented cross-sectional view some details ofthe first locking means of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates in fragmented cross-sectional view some details ofthe second locking means of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fitted witha closure unit according to the second embodiment of the invention,before first use of the dispenser-container;

FIG. 8 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 7 with the closure unit in anormally closed position;

FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 7 with the closure unit in anormally opened position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fittedwith a closure unit according to the third embodiment of the invention,before first use of the dispenser-container or in the normally closedposition;

FIG. 11 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 10 with the closure unit in anormally opened position;

FIG. 12 illustrates in plan view the closure unit of the embodiment ofFIG. 10;

FIG. 13 illustrates in fragmented cross-sectional view the embodiment ofFIG. 12 taken along C-C;

FIG. 14 illustrates in fragmented cross-sectional view the embodiment ofFIG. 13, when the closure unit is in the closed position illustrated inFIG. 10;

FIG. 15 illustrates some details of the locking means of the embodimentof FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fittedwith a closure unit according to the fourth embodiment of the invention,before first use of the dispenser-container or in the normally closedposition;

FIG. 17 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 16 with the closure unit in anormally opened position;

FIG. 18 illustrates in perspective view the closure unit of theembodiment of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fittedwith a closure unit according to the fifth embodiment of the invention,in a normally opened position;

FIG. 20 a illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 19 with the closure unit,before first use of the dispenser-container;

FIG. 20 b illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 19 with the closure unit ina normally closed position;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a closure unit according to the sixthembodiment of the invention, with the closure unit as initially formedin a closed position and prior to folding the tab;

FIGS. 22 a and 22 b illustrate in cross-sectional view the embodiment ofFIG. 21 taken along F-F: FIG. 22 a—with the unit as initially formed;FIG. 22 b—with the unit ready for mounting, with the tab in the foldedposition;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fittedwith a closure unit according to the embodiment of FIG. 21, with theclosure unit in a normally open position;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fittedwith a closure unit according to the seventh embodiment of theinvention, in the normally open position;

FIG. 25 illustrates in side view the closure unit of the embodiment ofFIG. 24 with the closure unit in the injection position;

FIG. 26 illustrates in plan view the closure unit of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 illustrates in cross sectional view the closure unit of FIG. 26taken along D-D;

FIG. 28 illustrates in cross sectional view the closure unit of FIG. 27in the closed position;

FIG. 29 illustrates in cross sectional view the closure unit of FIG. 26taken along E-E;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a tissue dispenser-container fittedwith a closure unit according to the eighth embodiment of the invention,in the normally open position;

FIG. 31 illustrates in plan view the closure unit of the embodiment ofFIG. 30 with the closure unit in the closed injection position;

FIG. 32 illustrates in cross sectional view the closure unit of FIG. 31taken along P-P;

FIG. 33 illustrates in cross sectional view the closure unit of FIG. 31taken along Q-Q;

FIG. 34 illustrates in fragmented cross sectional view a detail of theclosure unit of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 illustrates in cross sectional view the closure unit of FIG. 31taken along R-R;

FIG. 36 illustrates in fragmented isometric view the flap of the closureunit of FIG. 30 in the open position; and

FIG. 37 illustrates in fragmented plan view the closure unit of FIG. 30in the closed/injection position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Herein, the term “tissues” is taken to include, in addition to regulartissues, also wet wipes, towels, napkins, and all manner of similararticles, whether dry or impregnated with a liquid and/or comprising apowder, paste or other substance.

The tissues may be made, for example, from a fibrous material such asnon-woven fabric, paper, gauze, or foam or any other suitable materialformed in a sheet. Where the tissues are impregnated with liquid, theliquid may comprise, for example: liquid cosmetics, such as toilet wateror milky lotion; drugs, such as an antiseptic or a medicine; cleaningsolution for cleaning skin, including alcohol, moisturing agent,surfactant and so on; or solution for wiping stains in a kitchen,including alcohol, agent, surfactant and so on.

A typical dispenser-container according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Thedispenser-container, generally designated 60, comprises a resealablecontainer 10, which in the present embodiment may be similar to that ofthe conventionally known portable dispenser-container of a bag type forwet tissues. The container 10 is made from a flexible sheet suitablyfolded and bonded along a longitudinal join (not shown) and at ends 15to provide an internal space that is filled with articles to bedispensed, such as tissues and the like.

The flexible sheet constituting the container 10 may comprise, forexample, synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene,polyamide, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride in the form of a film, andthe film may be a single layer or a laminated layer. The film may be alaminated layer of the above-mentioned film and an aluminum foil orpaper, and the container 10 is in any case deformable.

The sheet constituting a container 10 may be gas impervious or liquidimpervious depending on the kind of the liquid impregnated in tissues,i.e., fibrous materials impregnated with liquid cosmetics or a medicine,contained in the container 10. For example, it may be preferred to use asheet which is impervious to both gas and liquid, when perfumes whichare very volatile are contained in the liquid.

Optionally, tissues may be separate tissues arranged in a interleavedmanner or in a zig-zagging pattern separately connected to one anotherabout a perforated tear line, or bonded one to another along overlappingtrailing edges and leading edges, respectively, or separately disposedon a stack. The container 10 comprises a dispensing opening 20 throughwhich the tissues are dispensed from the internal space. Optionally, aremovable adhesive strip is provided over the opening 20 to cover thesame until first use thereof. Alternatively, the opening 20 may betemporarily covered prior to first use by an integrally formed coverhaving a perforated or otherwise weakened periphery that is tearable toexpose said opening 20.

The opening 20 is preferably sized for dispensing one tissue at a timewhile separating a duty tissue from a successive tissue. The arrangementwith such tissues is preferably such that upon pulling a leading edge ofa standby tissue (by using the term “standby tissue” is referred to afirst tissue in a pack of tissues which is to be removed from thecontainer), the standby tissue is withdrawn through the opening 20whilst it detaches from the sequential tissue, which becomes in turn aduty tissue with its leading edge now projecting from the opening 20.

Alternatively, the dispenser-container may comprise a rigid container,made for example of plastic material fitted typically at a top or bottomthereof with an openable cover for introducing a pack of tissues fordispensing, the cover or box having a dispensing opening through whichthe tissues are dispensed from the inside of the box.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, thecontainer comprises a closure unit 100 for reversibly and sealablyclosing the dispensing aperture 20. The closure unit 100 is made from asuitable material, typically having greater stiffness than that of theflexible sheet from which the container 10 is made. The closure unit 100comprises a flap 120 pivotably connected to a frame 140 via hingearrangement 130.

Preferably, the hinge arrangement 130 comprises a so-called ‘integralhinge’, allowing the flap 120 to deform and/or rotate about the hinge.Alternatively, a ‘film hinge’ is provided at 130, in which case thethickness of material at the film hinge, particularly at the pivotingaxis 139, is a little less than that of the frame 140, and thus enablesthe cover flap 120 to preferentially pivot about this hinge. Accordingto another embodiment (not shown), the hinge may be a non-integralhinge, e.g. formed from one or more thin strips of material suitablybonded to the frame 140 and the flap 120.

The frame 140 in this embodiment is in the form of a “C”, comprising araised rib structure 145 joined to an outer base strip 144 and an innerbase strip 142 that circumscribes the outer and inner peripheries,respectively, of the rib structure, as illustrated particularly in FIG.4. The rib structure 145 is optional, and may be of solid, substantiallyrectangular cross-section, but is preferably hollow and of inverted Ucross-section, and provides mechanical strength and rigidity to the unit100, even when made from thin material. A gap is left between the facingends or jaws 147 of the C-shaped rib structure 145. Preferably, thefacing ends of strip 144 are extended via extensions 148, such that agap 152 is left between the two extensions 148, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The flap 120 is typically rectangular, and comprises an open box-likestructure, having an upper panel 121 and front wall 122, side walls 123and rear wall 124 joined to the panel 121. In the illustratedembodiment, the front wall 122 and the rear wall 124 are each longerthan each of the side walls 123. A border strip 128 circumscribes theouter periphery of the flap 120, and is substantially co-planar withinner base strip 142. The flap 120 comprises a finger-grasping portionin the form of a semi-cylindrical recess 125 formed on the front wall122. The box-like structure of the flap 120 allows for the leading edgeof a tissue to remain protruding from the opening 20 when the flap isclosed, enabling the duty tissue to be easily pulled next time the flapis opened.

The hinge arrangement 130 comprises a movable first hinge portion 135that forms part of the border strip 128 adjacent a mid section 136 ofrear wall 124, and a static second hinge portion 133 that forms part ofmid section 134 of the inner base strip 142. The first hinge portion 135thus pivots with respect to the static second hinge portion 133 via afold line or hinge axis 139.

The flap 120 comprises projections 129, one at either side of the hingeportion 133, for maintaining the flap in the open position. Theprojections extend in a rearwards direction from the rear wall 124beyond the hinge line 139. Thus, as the flap 120 is rotated to the openposition, the projections 129 also rotate and are displaced to aposition which is now in-board of the hinge line 139, as illustrated inFIG. 3. Thus, the flap 120 cannot by itself flop down to the closedposition, since the projections act as a stop. This effect is enhancedby the portion 11 of the container material that is within the frame140, which is held taut by the presence of the frame 140 itself. Theportion 11 acts as a spring and pushes the projections 129 in adirection away from the portion 11, since in this position theprojections 129 are pressurizing the portion 11 into the unit 10. Sincethe projections 129 are now inboard of the hinge line 139, asillustrated in FIG. 3, this force urges the flap 120 in the openposition. When a reasonable closing force is applied to the flap, theresistance between the projections and the material of the container 10in the vicinity thereof is overcome, and the flap may be fully rotatedto the closed position.

The closure unit 100 further comprises a pulling tab in the form of alocking arrangement 200 for reversibly locking the flap 120 with respectto the frame 140 in a substantially sealing manner. The lockingarrangement 200 comprises a locking tab 210 joined to a portion 215 ofthe border strip 128 that is adjacent the mid-section of the front wall122 via a bridge 230.

The locking arrangement 200 according to this embodiment comprises twolocking means. The first locking means is provided for locking the tab210 with respect to the bridge 230, preferably permanently. The firstlocking means comprises a male part in the form of one or more snaps 272comprised on the inner base strip 142, and a female part in the form ofa recess 274 formed on the tab 210. Referring particularly to FIG. 5,the snap 272 comprises a head 271 and neck section 273, which is joinedto the bridge 230. The width of the head 271 is such as to provide atight fit with respect to the recess 274, which has a narrowing mouth275 which engages the neck section 273 when the first locking means islocked. Optionally, the head may be formed with a substantially flatshoulder 276 facing the bridge portion, and similarly the recess maycomprise a complementary seat 277 just inside of the mouth 275, so thatwhen the snap 272 is inserted into the recess, the shoulder is engageswith the seat, and the snap 272 cannot be removed from the recess 274,except with extraordinary force or by damaging the same. A fold line 216(shown dotted in FIG. 4) separates the locking tab 210 from the bridge230, and enables the tab 210 to be folded over the bridge 230 and lockedin place with respect thereto, wherein the locking snap 272 is tightlyaccommodated with respect to recess 274, which is now in registry withthe snap 272, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The second locking means is provided for reversibly locking the tab 210with respect to the frame 140 via extensions 148. Referring to FIG. 6,the second locking means comprises a male part in the form of one ormore snaps 262 comprised on each of the extensions 148, and a femalepart in the form of corresponding recesses 264 formed on the tab 210. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the recesses 264 may be formed continuously withrecess 274, in the form of a channel having an appropriatecross-section, which may vary along its transverse length according tothe shape of the snaps 262 and 272. Each snap 262 preferably comprises ahead 261 and neck section 263, which is joined to the correspondingextension 148. The width of the head 261 is such as to provide areasonably tight fit with respect to the recess 264, which has anarrowing mouth 265 which engages the neck section 263 when the secondlocking means is locked. When the locking tab 210 is folded over andlocked with the bridge 230, the snaps 262 are in registry with therecesses 264. At the same time, the fit between the snaps 262 andrecesses 264 is insufficient to prevent the second locking means fromunlocking and opening up when a reasonable separating force is appliedbetween the tab 210 and the frame 140.

The structure of the closure unit 100 is such that it may beadvantageously formed as an integral unit, preferably of uniformthickness throughout, and formed in a configuration wherein the flap 120is at an angle substantially zero with respect to the frame 140. Inother words, the flap 120 is pivotably connected to the frame 140 viathe hinge arrangement, and the closure unit 100 is formed having theflap 120 initially at a forming angle with respect to the frame 140taken about the hinge arrangement, such that the forming angle is about0°, and thus substantially less than 180°.

In the initially formed configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 4, forexample, no portion of the flap or indeed any other part of the closuremember overlaps with any other part of the closure member 100, taken ina direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame 140.Thus, the closure unit 100 may be manufactured by vacuum forming or anyother suitable method that uses a suitable sheet material, typically aplastics material, such as for example polystyrene, polyester or PVC.This affords the possibility of reducing the manufacturing coststhereof, both in terms of materials and the process, substantiallyreducing the per-item cost of the container, as compared with prior artcontainers having a sealable closure unit, particularly of containers inthe form of flexible tissue packages.

Alternatively, the closure unit 100 may also be manufactured usingmolding and injection methods, as known in the art, in the configurationillustrated in FIG. 4. Another advantage of the closure unit of thepresent invention is that since it can be manufactured in asubstantially “closed” position, which is possible because, in planview, none of the components overlap, there is no need to then close theflap over the frame to seal the opening 20. Accordingly, if manufacturedusing molding and injection methods, the molds therefore areconsiderably smaller, typically up to 50% smaller, than if the closureunit were to be manufactured in the open position, thereby reducingcosts.

While for the first embodiment of the invention, the tab 210 is foldedover the bridge 230, this step may optionally be performed by thecustomer before opening the package, and in any case does not affect theclosure of the opening 20 by the unit 100 prior thereto.

When formed as an integral unit, the flap 120, bridge 230 and tab 210are joined to the frame 140 via two fracturable or otherwise separablebreak lines 300, each in the form of an “S”. Each break line 250 thusextends from one or the other end of the pivot line 139 between theinner base strip 142 and the border strip 128, between the extensions148 and the border strip 128, between the extensions 148 and the bridge230, and finally between the extensions 148 and the tab 210. Optionally,the areas between extensions 148 and the tab 210 may be separated, andthus the break lines 250 do not need to extend to these areas. The breaklines 250 may be perforated, or pre-weakened, or formed withsubstantially less material than the surrounding parts of the flap 120or frame 140, and thus tear or break when a predetermined lifting forceis applied to the flap 120 with respect to the frame 140. Optimally,such a lifting force is set to be within the range of forces that cannormally be applied by an average adult without over-exertion, while notbeing so low that simple mishandling of the dispenser-container 60 wouldcause the break lines 250 to tear.

The outer base strip 144, inner base strip 142 and the extensions 148comprise an adhesive layer which enable these parts of the unit 100 tobe adhered to the container 10 such as to circumscribe the opening 20,as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, these parts may be otherwisebonded to the container 10, for example by heat welding.

The dispenser-container 60 including the closure unit 100 may be used asfollows. Referring to FIG. 1, an unused dispenser-container 60 isprovided with a integrally formed closure unit 100, bonded to thecontainer 10 via base strip 144, inner base strip 142 and the extensions148. The tab 210 is somewhat separated from the container 10 and isgraspable. The user grasps the tab 210 and folds this about fold line216 and engaged with respect to the bridge 230, as illustrated in FIG.2. Alternatively, this step may be performed at the factory or at anyother point before reaching the consumer. For example, the engagement oftab 210 with the bridge 230 may be preformed when the unit 100 ismanufactured, and before bonding the same to the container 10;alternatively the tab 210 may be engaged with the bridge 230 after theunit 100 is bonded to the container 10. When the tab 210 is engaged withthe bridge 230 at factory, a permanent glue or the like may be used topermanently bond the two components together, and thus it is not sonecessary for the snap 272 to be shaped such as to be permanentlyengaged in recess 274 by virtue solely of the shape thereof.

The user can then pull the tab 210 away from the frame 140, typically bygrasping the underside of bridge 230 with a thumb and the recess 125with another finger, thereby tearing away the break lines 250, andseparating the joined components comprising the tab 210, bridge 230 andflap 120 from the frame 140 up to but not including the hinge line 139.The flap can then assume the open position illustrated in FIG. 3,wherein the projections 129 maintain the flap in the open position. Theflap 120 may be closed by rotating the flap back to its originalposition, and engaging the snaps 262 with recesses 264. Thereafter, theflap 210 may be opened and closed as often as required to access tissuesfrom the container 10.

Alternatively, the user pulls the tab 210 away from the frame 140,thereby tearing away the break lines 250, and separating the joinedcomponents comprising the tab 210, bridge 230 and flap 120 from theframe 140 up to but not including the hinge line 139. Then, the tab 210is folded about fold line 216 and engaged with respect to the bridge230. Thereafter, the flap 210 may be opened or closed via engagement ofthe snaps 262 with recesses 264 as often as required to access tissuesfrom the container 10.

Thus, the break lines 250 also serve as a factory seal and tamper proofevidence that the container-dispenser 60 has not been opened.

Optionally, the closure unit 100 is provided as a stand-alone unit, thatis adapted as a retrofit device for any suitable container, or indeed asa general purpose closure device for an opening. Such a closure unit isthus as described above with respect to the first embodiment, mutatismutandis, but instead of being bonded to the container 10 directly fromthe factory, it is provided separately as a stand-alone closure unit.This closure unit thus preferably comprises an adhesive coating on basestrip 144, inner base strip 142 and the extensions 148, and theseportions are covered with a temporary protective strip. Alternatively,the user may provide an adhesive coating or the like. When required, auser can remove the protective the strip, align the device with anopening that it is wished to cover, and then adheres the device thereto.Opening the device for the first time, and subsequent operation thereofis as described for the closure unit 100, mutatis mutandis.

A second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9,comprises a closure unit 300, which is substantially similar in form andoperation to the closure unit 100 described herein particularly withreference to the first embodiment, mutatis mutandis. The majordifference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment isthat in the latter embodiment, the front wall 322 and rear wall 324 ofthe lid 320 are each substantially shorter than the side walls 323thereof, and similarly the surrounding structure, such as for examplethe frame 340, accommodates the difference in aspect ratios between thelids 120 and 320. As with the first embodiment, the closure unit of thesecond embodiment may also be provided as a stand-alone unit, in asimilar manner as described with respect to the first embodiment,mutatis mutandis.

A typical dispenser-container according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 15, and comprises allthe elements and features of the first embodiment, mutatis mutandis,with the differences that will become apparent in the description thatfollows. The dispenser-container, generally designated 460, comprises aresealable container 10, as already described for the first embodiment,mutatis mutandis, having an internal space that is filled with articlesto be dispensed, such as tissues and the like via opening 20. Accordingto the third embodiment, the container comprises a closure unit 400 forreversibly sealably closing the dispensing aperture 20. Thus, theclosure unit 400 comprises a cover, cap or flap 420 pivotably connectedto a frame 440 via hinge arrangement 430.

In contrast to the first embodiment, the frame 440 is in a form thatsubstantially fully circumscribes the periphery of the lid 420, ratherthan being in the form of an open “C”. Optionally, though, the frame maycomprise a C-shaped raised rib structure (not shown) similar to that ofthe first embodiment, mutatis mutandis, or indeed a rib structure thatalso circumscribes the flap 420. The frame 440 is thus substantiallyrectangular, having a front strip 446 and a rear strip 442 each joinedto two side strips 444 at the transverse ends thereof.

The flap 420 is typically rectangular and may be substantially similarto that of the first embodiment, and thus comprises an open box-likestructure, having an upper panel 421 and front wall 422, side walls 423and rear wall 424 joined to the panel 421. In the illustratedembodiment, the front wall 422 and the rear wall 424 are each longerthan each of the side walls 423. Furthermore, the flap 420 mayoptionally comprise substantially rounded corner portions 427. A borderstrip 428 circumscribes the outer periphery of the flap 420, and issubstantially co-planar with the frame 440. The flap 420 comprises afinger-grasping portion, which in the illustrated embodiment in the formof a cylindrical dimple or recess 425 formed on the upper panel 421.

The hinge arrangement 430 is similar in form and function to that of thefirst embodiment, mutatis mutandis, and similarly, the flap 420comprises projections 429, one at either side of the hinge arrangement430, for maintaining the flap in the open position.

Optionally, and advantageously, a stiffening rib 470 may be provided onthe front strip 446.

In contrast to the first embodiment, rather than a pulling tab, theclosure unit 400 of the third embodiment comprises a different form of alocking arrangement 480 for reversibly locking the flap 420 with respectto the frame 440 in a substantially sealing manner. The lockingarrangement 480 according to this embodiment comprises two tooth-likelocking latches 410 carried on a tab 435, although in other embodimentsmore than two or less than two latches may be provided. The latches 410are provided for reversibly locking the flap 420 with respect to theframe 440.

A fold line 416 separates the tab 430 from the front strip 446, andenables the tab 435 to be folded under the front strip 446 and locked inplace with respect thereto by any suitable means, for example by bondingor heat welding the tab 430 to the front strip 446. The latches 410 arelocated on the tab 435 in a position such that when the tab 435 isfolded under the front strip 446, the latches are protruding in adirection slightly towards the inside of the cap 420 (when in the closedposition), typically at an angle γ taken from the vertical 499(orthogonal to the plane of the front strip 446) of between about 2 toabout 7 degrees, though angle γ may be greater than 7 degrees or lessthan 2 degrees, typically depending on the resiliency of the materialfrom which the unit 400 is made, and in particular engage the insidefaces of the front wall 422 and/or side walls 423.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 13 to 15, the latches 410 are each inthe form of a protrusion comprised on the tab 435, and comprises aforward face 411 that is slanting slightly in the forward direction,i.e., away from the hinge arrangement 430 when the tab 435 is folded asdescribed above. The flap 420 comprises a complementarily slantingcontact face 429 that engages with face 411, and thus maintains the flap420 in a closed position with respect to the frame 440. Essentially, thefront wall 422 and/or side walls 423, or at least the said contact faces429, have a narrowing edge 465 which is hooked over the free end of theprotrusion and is seated with respect to the slanting forward face 411.At the same time, the fit between the faces 411 and 429 is insufficientto prevent latches 410 from unlocking and opening up with respect to theflap 420 when a reasonable separating force is applied between the flap420 and the frame 440.

Alternatively, the closure unit 400 may be manufactured using moldingand injection methods, as known in the art.

As with the first embodiment, the structure of the closure unit 400 issuch that it may be advantageously formed as an integral unit of uniformthickness throughout, and may be manufactured by vacuum forming or anyother suitable method that uses a suitable sheet material, typically aplastics material. In other words, the flap 420 is pivotably connectedto the frame 440 via the hinge arrangement, and the closure unit 400 isformed having the flap 420 initially at a forming angle with respect tothe frame 440 taken about the hinge arrangement, such that the formingangle is about 0°, and thus substantially less than 180°.

While the faces 411 and 429 are sloping at acute angles with respect tothe surrounding frame 440, these angles with respect to a vertical datumare indeed very small, and thus the natural elasticity of the materialfrom which the unit 400 is formed is sufficient to remove such a partwhen formed over suitable molds. Thus, by non-overlapping it is meantalso to include embodiments such as the third embodiment, in which atleast some parts may be disposed at an acute angle with respect to theframe, for example.

When formed as an integral unit, the flap 420 is joined to the frame 440via a fracturable or otherwise separable break line 450, in the form ofa “C”, excluding the hinge means 430. The break line 450 thus extendsfrom one end of the pivot line of the hinge means 430, between the frame440 and the border strip 428, and to the other end of the pivot line ofthe hinge means 430. The break line 450 may be perforated, orpre-weakened, or formed with substantially less material than thesurrounding parts of the flap 420 or frame 440, and thus tear or breakwhen a predetermined lifting force is applied to the flap 420 withrespect to the frame 440 for the first time. Optimally, such a liftingforce is set to be within the range of forces that can normally beapplied by an average adult without over-exertion, while not being solow that simple mishandling of the dispenser-container 60 would causethe break lines 450 to tear. Alternatively, the unit 400 may be providedwith a break line 450 that is already fully perforated.

The exposed part underside of the frame 440 and the underside of the tab435, when this is bonded to the frame, comprise an adhesive layer whichenables these parts of the unit 400 to be adhered to the container 10such as to circumscribe the opening 20, as illustrated in FIG. 11.Alternatively, these parts may be otherwise bonded to the container 10,for example by heat welding.

The closure unit 400 according to this embodiment is typically providedwith the tab 435 already folded under and bonded or otherwise joined tothe front strip 446. The closure unit 400 is also bonded in thisconfiguration to the container 10 before it reaches the customer.Alternatively, the closure unit 400 may be provided as a separate unit,to be mounted to the container 10 by the customer.

(In any case, the closure unit 400 is typically manufactured in the formillustrated in FIG. 12. The tab 435 is then rotated and folded backabout line 416, and glued, bonded, welded or otherwise joined to theunderside of the frame 440, particularly the front strip 446, asillustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.)

The dispenser-container 460 including the closure unit 400 may be usedas follows. Referring to FIG. 10, an unused dispenser-container 460 isprovided with an integrally formed closure unit 400, bonded to thecontainer 10 via the underside of tab 435 and part of the underside offrame 440.

To open the closure unit 400, the user can then push the flap 420slightly forwards and upwards to disengage the flap 420 from the latches410. The forward movement is permitted by the hinge arrangement 430,which preferably comprises a hemi-cylindrical configuration which isdeformable to provide the required play. The flap can then assume theopen position illustrated in FIG. 11, wherein the projections 429maintain the flap in the open position. The flap 420 may be closed byrotating the flap back to its original position, and engaging the faces429 of the flap 420 with latches 411.

Optionally, for the first use of the unit 400, the user pulls the flap420 away from the frame 440, thereby tearing away the break lines 450,and separating the flap 420 from the frame 440 up to but not includingthe hinge line of the hinge means 430. In such a case, the break lines450 also serve as a factory seal and tamper proof evidence that thecontainer-dispenser 460 has not been opened.

As with the first embodiment, mutatis mutandis, the closure unit 400 mayoptionally be provided as a stand-alone unit, that is adapted as aretrofit device for any suitable container, or indeed as a generalpurpose closure device for an opening.

A fourth embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18,comprises a closure unit 500, which is substantially similar in form andoperation to the closure unit 400 described herein particularly withreference to the third embodiment, mutatis mutandis. The majordifference between the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment isthat in the latter embodiment, the front wall 522 and rear wall 524 ofthe lid 520 are each substantially shorter than the side walls 523thereof, and similarly the surrounding structure, such as for examplethe frame 540, accommodates the difference in aspect ratios between thelids or flaps 420 and 520. Optionally, the finger-grasping portion maybe in the form of a cylindrical tab 525 which is formed on the frontwall 522 of the flap 520. The fold line 516 is separated by the tab 525,and thus part of the tab protrudes forwardly when the tab 535 that isjoined to the frame 540 via line 516, is folded under the frame, asillustrated in FIG. 17. This arrangement for the tab 525 provides foreasier grasping of the flap 520, and facilitates tearing away the flap520 with respect to the break line 550 at first use of the closure unit.Closure of the flap is via latches 510, which are similar to thosedescribed for the third embodiment, mutatis mutandis.

As with the third embodiment, the closure unit of the fourth embodimentmay also be provided as a stand-alone unit, in a similar manner asdescribed with respect to the third embodiment, mutatis mutandis.

A typical dispenser-container according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 21, and comprises allthe elements and features of the third embodiment, mutatis mutandis,with the differences that will become apparent in the description thatfollows. The dispenser-container, generally designated 660, comprises aresealable container 10, as already described for the first embodiment,mutatis mutandis, having an internal space that is filled with articlesto be dispensed, such as tissues and the like via opening 20. Accordingto the fifth embodiment, the container comprises a closure unit 600 forreversibly sealably closing the dispensing aperture 20. Thus, theclosure unit 600 comprises a cover, cap or flap 620 pivotably connectedto a frame 640 via hinge arrangement 630.

As with the third embodiment, the frame 640 is in a form thatsubstantially fully circumscribes the periphery of the lid 620, and mayoptionally comprise a C-shaped raised rib structure (not shown) similarto that of the first embodiment, mutatis mutandis, or any suitable ribstructure. The frame 640 is thus substantially rectangular, having afront strip 646 and a rear strip 642 each joined to two side strips 644at the transverse ends thereof. Similarly, the flap 620 is typicallyrectangular, and thus comprises an open box-like structure, having anupper panel 621 and front wall 622, which is optionally curved asillustrated in the Figures, side walls 623 and rear wall 624 joined tothe panel 621. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 622 and therear wall 624 are each shorter than each of the side walls 623, thoughin other embodiments the front and rear walls may be longer than theside walls. The flap 620 comprises a finger-grasping portion, which inthe illustrated embodiment in the form of a disc-like tab 625 joined toa lower part of the front wall 622 via neck portion 626. Thus, the frontstrip 646 of the frame 640 comprises a circular aperture 645 and a neckportion 647 complementary to the outer peripheries of the tab 625 andneck portion 626, respectively. Optionally, a border strip (not shown)circumscribes the outer lower periphery 628 of the flap 620, includingthe lower periphery of the tab 625 and neck 626, which is substantiallyco-planar with the frame 640.

The hinge arrangement 630 is similar to that described for the thirdembodiment, mutatis mutandis, and in particular comprises ahemi-cylindrical configuration which is deformable to enable the flap620 to be displaced in the forwards direction with respect to the frame640, as will become clearer hereinbelow.

The major difference between this embodiment and the third embodimentlies in that the fifth embodiment does not comprise an additional tabjoined to the front strip 646 via fold line. While the fifth embodimentcomprises two locking latches 610, these are formed on the upper side ofthe frame member 640, in particular the front strip 646, andadvantageously situated one on either side of the neck portion 647 ofthe frame. In other embodiments more than two or less than two latchesmay be provided.

As with the third embodiment, the latches 610 are provided forreversibly locking the flap 620 with respect to the frame 640. Operationof the locking arrangement, though, is by pulling the flap 620 in theforwards direction, while still slightly open with respect to the frame640, so that the front wall 622 overshoots the position of the latches610, and this forward movement is permitted by the hemi-cylindricalconfiguration of the hinge arrangement 630 which is deformable toprovide the required play, and/or by the resilience of the material fromwhich the unit 600 is made. The flap 620 can then be lowered towards theframe 640, wherein the latches are now inside the flap 620, asillustrated in FIG. 20 b.

The latches 610 are now in a position such that they are protruding in adirection towards the inside of the cap 620 (that is, when this in theclosed position), and in particular engage the inside faces of the frontwall 622 in a similar manner to that described for the third embodiment,mutatis mutandis.

Thus, in the closed position, the resiliency of the hinge arrangement630 provides a rearwards pulling force to the flap 620, pressing thefront wall 622 thereof against the latches 610. At the same time, thefit between the latches 610 and the front wall 622 is insufficient toprevent latches 610 from unlocking and opening up with respect to theflap 620 when a reasonable separating or opening force is appliedbetween the flap 620 and the frame 640.

As with the third embodiment, the structure of the closure unit 600 issuch that it may be advantageously formed as an integral unit of uniformthickness throughout, and may be manufactured by vacuum forming or anyother suitable method that uses a suitable sheet material, typically aplastics material. In other words, the flap 620 is pivotably connectedto the frame 640 via the hinge arrangement, and the closure unit 600 isformed having the flap 620 initially at a forming angle with respect tothe frame 640 taken about the hinge arrangement, such that the formingangle is about 0°, and thus substantially less than 180°. Alternatively,the closure unit 600 may be manufactured using molding and injectionmethods, as known in the art.

When formed as an integral unit, the flap 620 is preferably joined tothe frame 640 via a fracturable or otherwise separable break line 650,that extends around the periphery 628 up to but not including the hingearrangement 630, and may similar to that described for the thirdembodiment, mutatis mutandis.

The underside of the frame 640 comprises an adhesive layer which enablesthe unit 600 to be adhered to the container 10 such as to circumscribethe opening 20, as illustrated in FIG. 19. Alternatively, the frame maybe otherwise bonded to the container 10, for example by heat welding.

The dispenser-container 660 including the closure unit 600 may be usedas follows. Referring to FIG. 20 a, an unused dispenser-container 660 isprovided with an integrally formed closure unit 600, bonded to thecontainer 10. In the unused and thus unopened configuration, the flap620 is accommodated within the frame 640, wherein the tab 625 and neckportion 626 are in registry with the aperture 645 and the neck portion647, respectively.

At the first use, and referring to FIG. 19, in order to first open theunit 600 the user detaches the flap 620 from the frame 640, tearing anyconnection that there may be in the break line 650. In such a case, thefracturable break lines 650 also serve as a factory seal and tamperproof evidence that the container-dispenser 660 has not been opened. Theflap 620 may then be fully opened, and the flap may be retained in theopen position by means of the projections 629, in a similar manner tothe previously described embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 20 b, in order to close the closure unit 600, the flap620 is brought into close proximity to the frame 640 and at the sametime pulled in the forward direction until the front wall 622 overshootsthe latches 610, whereupon, the flap can be fully lowered onto the frame640. By means of the resilience of the hinge arrangement 630, the flap620 is pulled back towards the hinge arrangement 630, enabling thelatches to engage with the inside surface of the front wall 622, andthis maintains the flap 620 in the closed position.

To open the closure unit 600, after it has been opened for the firsttime, and then subsequently closed as described above, the user can thenpull the flap 620 slightly forwards and upwards by means of the tab 625to disengage the flap 620 from the latches 610. The closure unit 600 maythen be alternately opened as closed when desired.

As with the aforementioned embodiments, mutatis mutandis, the closureunit 600 may optionally be provided as a stand-alone unit, that isadapted as a retrofit device for any suitable container, or indeed as ageneral purpose closure device for an opening.

A typical dispenser-container according to a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 21 to 23 and comprises all theelements and features of the third embodiment, mutatis mutandis, withthe differences that will become apparent in the description thatfollows. The dispenser-container, generally designated 960, comprises aresealable container 10, as already described for the first embodiment,mutatis mutandis, having an internal space that is filled with articlesto be dispensed, such as tissues and the like via opening 20. Accordingto the sixth embodiment, the container comprises a closure unit 900 forreversibly sealably closing the dispensing aperture 20. Thus, theclosure unit 900 comprises a cover, cap or flap 920 pivotably connectedto a frame 940 via hinge arrangement 930. The frame 940 defines anopening 949, created when the flap 920 is pivoted away from the frame940,

The frame 940 is in a form that substantially fully circumscribes theperiphery of the lid 920. Optionally, and preferably, the frame 940comprises a C-shaped raised rib structure 970, that also circumscribes aportion of the flap 920. The frame 940 typically follows the plan shapeof the flap, and in the illustrated embodiment is substantiallyrectangular, having a front strip 946 and a rear strip 942 each joinedto two side strips 944 at the transverse ends thereof. Similarly, theflap 920 is also typically rectangular and may be substantially similarto that of the third embodiment, and thus comprises an open box-likestructure, having an upper panel 921, front wall 922, side walls 923,rear wall 924 and rounded corner portions 927. Optionally, text, a logo,symbols and so on may be embossed on the panel 921, comprising, forexample, the manufacturer's name and/or a trademark used in conjunctionwith the unit, the dispenser 960 or the wipes comprised therein. In theillustrated embodiment, the front wall 922 and the rear wall 924 areeach longer than each of the side walls 923, but the reverse may be thecase, or alternatively the flap member 920 may comprise any suitableshape, for example elliptical. Optionally, a border strip (not shown)circumscribes the outer periphery of the flap 920, and is substantiallyco-planar with the frame 940. Alternatively, the flap 920 meets theframe 940 at an angle, for example 90°. The flap 920 comprises afinger-grasping portion, which in the illustrated embodiment in the formof a button 990 located in a recess 925 formed on the upper panel 921,and also includes a tab 953.

The hinge arrangement 930 is similar in form and function to that of thethird embodiment, mutatis mutandis, and similarly, the flap 920comprises projections 929, one at either side of the hinge arrangement930, for maintaining the flap in the open position.

A fold line 916 separates the tab 935 from the front strip 946, andenables the tab 935 to be folded under the front strip 946 and locked inplace with respect thereto by any suitable means, for example by bondingor heat welding the tab 935 to the front strip 946.

The closure unit 900 of the sixth embodiment comprises a lockingarrangement 980, similar in some respects to the locking arrangement ofthe third embodiment, for reversibly locking the flap 920 with respectto the frame 940 in a substantially sealing manner. The lockingarrangement 980 according to this embodiment comprises one projectingtooth-like locking latch 910 carried on a tab 935, although in otherembodiments more than one latch may be provided, mutatis mutandis. Thelatch 910 is provided for reversibly locking the flap 920 with respectto the frame 940, and for this purpose is aligned and selectivelyengages with the inside of the button 990, which also acts as acomplementary latch member.

Thus, the latch 910 is located on the tab 935 in a position such thatwhen the tab 935 is folded under the front strip 946, the latch isprotruding in an outwards direction substantially orthogonal to theplane of the frame 940, and aligned with the button 990. In theillustrated embodiment, the latch 910 has a shape such that thecross-section thereof increases slightly with distance away from the tab935. For example, at least the front and rear walls 912 of the latch 910(when the tab is in the folded position) are inclined slightly away fromthe vertical. Typically this inclination may comprise an angle γ takenfrom the vertical 999 (orthogonal to the plane of the front strip 946)of, for example between about 2 to about 7 degrees, though angle γ maybe greater than 7 degrees or less than 2 degrees, typically depending onthe resiliency of the material from which the unit 900 is made, and inparticular engages the inner complementary faces 992 of the button 990,as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 22 a and 22 b.

In particular, this arrangement allows the latch 910 to be selectivelyand reversibly positively locked with respect to the button 990, and thelatch 990 may thus comprise at least one protrusion of increasingcross-section in a direction away from said frame member when in theclosed position. At the same time, the button, which acts as a second,complementary latching member, comprises a recess of increasingcross-section in a direction away from said frame member when in theclosed position, at least a portion of said recess being complementaryto a portion of said protrusion. Typically, at least one of said portionof said recess and said portion of said protrusion are elasticallydeformable to permit selective locking of said first latching memberwith said second latching member.

Thus, the button 990 is engaged by the latch 910, and this maintains andlocks the flap 920 in a closed position with respect to the frame 940.At the same time, the fit between the faces 992 and 912 is insufficientto prevent latch 910 from unlocking and opening up with respect to theflap 920 when a reasonable separating force is applied by the userbetween the flap 920 and the frame 940.

As with the third embodiment, the structure of the closure unit 900 issuch that it may be advantageously formed as an integral unit of uniformthickness throughout, or alternatively of varying thicknesses, and maybe manufactured by vacuum forming, heat forming, or any other suitablemethod that uses a suitable sheet material, typically a plasticsmaterial, which may be of constant thickness or varying thickness, asrequired. In other words, the flap 920 is pivotably connected to theframe 940 via the hinge arrangement, and the closure unit 900 is formedhaving the flap 920 initially at a forming angle with respect to theframe 940 taken about the hinge arrangement, such that the forming angleis less than 180°, typically about 0°. Alternatively, the closure unit900 may be manufactured using molding and injection methods, as known inthe art.

It is also clear that the closure unit 900 is initially formed, i.e.,with the flap 920 still connected to the frame 940, and with the tab 935still unfolded, in a manner such that substantially no part of said flap920 substantially overlaps any part of the frame 940 in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the opening 949 formed in the frame 940.

While the faces 912 and 992 are sloping at acute angles with respect tothe surrounding frame 940, these angles with respect to a vertical datumare typically small, and thus the natural elasticity of the materialfrom which the unit 900 is formed is sufficient to remove the button 990and the latch 910 when formed over suitable molds, which thus do notrequire to be dismantled in any way in order to retrieve the unit 900.

When formed as an integral unit, the flap 920 is joined to the frame 940via a fracturable or otherwise separable break line 950, in the form ofa “C”, excluding the hinge means 930. The break line 950 thus extendsfrom one end of the pivot line of the hinge means 930, between the frame940 and the border strip 928, and to the other end of the pivot line ofthe hinge means 930. The break line 950 may be perforated, orpre-weakened, or formed with substantially less material than thesurrounding parts of the flap 920 or frame 940, and thus tear or breakwhen a predetermined lifting force is applied to the flap 920 withrespect to the frame 940 for the first time. Optimally, such a liftingforce is set to be within the range of forces that can normally beapplied by an average adult without over-exertion, while not being solow that simple mishandling of the dispenser-container 90 wouldgenerally cause the break lines 950 to tear. Alternatively, the unit 900may be provided with a break line 950 that is already fully perforated.

In this embodiment, the break line 950 at the front part of the flap 920extends beyond the fold line 910, and thus, when the tab 935 is folded,a front part 952 of the break line is torn, exposing a narrow pullingtab 953. The tab 935 is thus folded about two portions of the fold line910, one on each side of the puling tab 953. The pulling tab 953projects forward of the frame 940, after the tab 935 has been folded,and provides a finger grasping portion that enables the flap 920 to betorn away from the frame at the remaining portions of the break lines950, and for subsequently re-opening the flap. When the unit 900 isinitially formed, i.e., prior to tab 935 being folded under said frame940, no part of the pulling tab 953 overlaps any part of the frame 940.

The exposed part underside of the frame 940 and the underside of the tab935, when this is bonded to the frame 940, optionally comprise anadhesive layer which enables these parts of the unit 900 to be adheredto the container 10 such as to circumscribe the opening 20, asillustrated in FIG. 23. Alternatively, these parts may be otherwisebonded to the container 10, for example by heat welding.

Although the closure unit 900 according to this embodiment is initiallyformed with the tab 935 extending away from the flap in the positionillustrated in FIG. 21 it is typically provided to consumers with thetab 935 already folded under and bonded or otherwise joined to the frontstrip 946. The closure unit 900 is also typically bonded in thisconfiguration to the container 10 before it reaches the customer.Alternatively, the closure unit 900 may be provided as a separate unit,to be mounted to the container 10 by the customer.

In any case, the closure unit 900 is typically manufactured initially inthe form illustrated in FIG. 21, i.e., with the tab unfolded, and theflap 920 connected to the frame 940 along lines 950. The tab 935 is thenrotated and folded back about line 916, and glued, bonded, welded orotherwise joined to the underside of the frame 940, particularly thefront strip 946, as illustrated in FIGS. 22 a and 22 b.

The dispenser-container 960 including the closure unit 900 may be usedas follows. Referring to FIG. 21, an unused dispenser-container 960 isprovided with an integrally formed closure unit 900, bonded to thecontainer 10 via the underside of tab 935 and part of the underside offrame 940.

To open the closure unit 900, the user can then pull the button 990 freeof the latch 910 to disengage the flap 920 from the latch 910 and fromthe frame 940. This disengagement is permitted by the elasticity of thebutton 990 and/or the latch 910. The flap 940 can then assume the openposition illustrated in FIG. 23, wherein the projections 929 maintainthe flap in the open position. The flap 920 may be closed by rotatingthe flap back to its original position, and engaging the faces 929 ofthe flap 920 with latch 910.

The break lines 950 also serve as a factory seal and tamper proofevidence that the container-dispenser 960 has not been opened, since,for the first use of the unit 900, the user pulls the flap 920 away fromthe frame 940, thereby tearing away the break lines 950, and separatingthe flap 920 from the frame 940 up to but not including the hinge lineof the hinge means 930. Alternatively, though less preferable, it isalso possible to provide the unit 900 to the consumer with the flap 920already separated from the frame 940.

As with the third embodiment, mutatis mutandis, the closure unit 900 mayoptionally be provided as a stand-alone unit, that is adapted as aretrofit device for any suitable container, or indeed as a generalpurpose closure device for an opening. In such a case, the closure unit900 is optionally provided with a layer of adhesive, preferably coveredwith a peelable cover (not shown).

While the first through sixth embodiments have been described as havinga substantially rectangularly-shaped cover or flap, and correspondinglyshaped frame, it is clear that the flap may have any other shape,including polygonal, circular, elliptical, irregular, sinusoidal and soon, mutatis mutandis.

A typical dispenser-container according to a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 24 to 29. Thedispenser-container, generally designated 760, comprises a resealablecontainer 10, substantially as already described for the firstembodiment, mutatis mutandis, having an internal space that is filledwith articles to be dispensed, such as tissues and the like via opening20. According to the seventh embodiment, the container comprises aclosure unit 700 for reversibly sealably closing the dispensing aperture20. Thus, the closure unit 700 comprises a cover, cap or flap 720pivotably connected to a frame 740 via hinge arrangement 730.

The flap 720 is typically quasi elliptical or shell-like in plan view,though it may be any other shape, for example as described for the otherembodiments herein, mutatis mutandis. The flap 720 comprises an openbox-like structure, having an upper panel 721 and curved peripheral wall723 and flat rear wall 724 joined to the panel 721. In the illustratedembodiment, the major axis 790 of the flap (when viewed in plan view) issubstantially parallel to the rear wall 724, but in other embodiments,the major axis may be perpendicular to the rear wall 724. Furthermore,the flap 720 may optionally comprise substantially rounded concavecorner portions 727 near the rear wall 724. The flap 720 comprises afinger-grasping portion, which in the illustrated embodiment in the formof a lower tab 725 and semi-cylindrical dimple or recess 722 formed onthe front part of peripheral wall 723.

The frame 740 is in a form that substantially fully circumscribes theperiphery of the lid 720, and is thus at least in part substantiallyelliptical. The frame 740 comprises a raised rib-like structure 750which comprises a curved portion 752 having an inner profilesubstantially complementary to the outer periphery of the peripheralwall 723, and a planar section 754 corresponding to the rear wall 724.The rib structure thus circumscribes the flap 720, when this is in theclosed position as will be described further herein, and circumscribesthe inner edge 744 of the frame 740.

The hinge arrangement 730 pivotably attaches the rear wall 724 of flap720 to the planar section 754 of the rib structure 750 of the frame 740.Optionally, the hinge arrangement 730 comprises a so-called ‘integralhinge’, allowing the flap 720 to deform and rotate about the hinge.Preferably, and as illustrated in FIGS. 27 to 29, a ‘film hinge’ isprovided at 730, in which case the thickness of material at the filmhinge, particularly at the pivoting axis thereof, is a little less thanthat of the frame 740, and thus enables the cover flap 720 topreferentially pivot about this hinge. According to another embodiment(not shown), the hinge may be a non-integral hinge, e.g. formed from oneor more thin strips of material suitably bonded to the frame 740 and theflap 720.

The closure unit 700 of the seventh embodiment comprises a lockingarrangement 780 for reversibly locking the flap 720 with respect to theframe 740 in a substantially sealing manner. The locking arrangement 780according to this embodiment comprises the free leading edge 728 of thetab 725 and a complementary lip 785 comprised on the front part of therib structure 750, the lip 785 projecting from the rib structure 750 ina rearwards direction towards the hinge arrangement 730. When it isdesired to close the flap 720, this is rotated about the hingearrangement 730, until the leading edge 728 is snapped into positionbelow the lip 785. When it is desired to open the closure unit 700, theuser presses the recess 722 in a direction towards the hinge arrangement730. The resilience of the closure unit 700, and/or the play allowed forin the hinge arrangement 730, allow the leading edge 728 to bedisengaged from the lip 785, and thus the flap 720 may be opened.

The closure unit 700 is particularly characterized in that it may bemanufactured using mold injection techniques, but with the advantagethat this is done using molds that are substantially smaller than thoseof the prior art, which reduces cost and provides other advantages.Specifically, the closure unit 700 may be injected molded in an ajarposition, as illustrated in FIGS. 25, 27 and 29, wherein the lid is at aforming angle α, herein also referred to as the “injection positionangle”, with respect to the frame 740. According to this embodiment,angle α is greater than 0° and less than 180°. Typically, α is betweenabout 5° and about 90°, or between about 10° and about 80°, andoptionally about 15°.

The mold injection process may carried out using an upper mold part anda lower mold part, which when they come together define an internalspace corresponding to the outer surfaces of the closure unit 700. Whena plastic or other suitable flowable material is allowed to fill thisspace using a suitable injection technique, and then allowed to cool, aclosure unit 700 according to the invention is produced. According tothis embodiment, the angle α is such that all the internal surfaces ofthe frame 740 and the flap 720 are presented as concavities, with allsuch surfaces being at an angle not greater than 90° to the horizontal.Furthermore, angle α is such that no portion of the frame 740 overlapswith the flap 720 in the vertical direction. In fact, angle α is suchthat no portion of the unit 700 overlaps with the any other portion ofthe unit 700 in the vertical direction. At the same time, angle α iskept as small as possible.

In the present embodiment, since the flap 720 is molded at an acuteangle with respect to the frame 740, the plan area of the mold is abouthalf of what it would need to be if the flap 720 were at 180° to theframe 740. Another advantage of molding the closure arrangement 700 inthe ajar position is that it requires a much simpler operation to closethe same at the factory when attaching the unit to a package 10—in thiscase only a shutting operation is required by applying a verticalclosing force to the flap 720. In the prior art, the flap needs to berotated by 180° and then closed.

Alternatively, and as with the first embodiment, the structure of theclosure unit 700 is also such that it may be advantageously formed as anintegral unit of uniform thickness throughout, and may also bemanufactured by vacuum forming or any other suitable method that uses asuitable sheet material, typically a plastics material.

The underside of the frame 740 comprises an adhesive layer which enablethese parts of the unit 700 to be adhered to the container 10 such as tocircumscribe the opening 20, as illustrated in FIG. 24. Alternatively,these parts may be otherwise bonded to the container 10, for example byheat welding.

The closure unit 700 according to this embodiment is typically providedalready closed and bonded in this configuration to the container 10before it reaches the customer. Alternatively, the closure unit 700 maybe provided as a separate unit, to be mounted to the container 10 by thecustomer.

Operation of the dispenser-container 760 including the closure unit 700is as follows. To open the closure unit 700, the user can then push therecess 722 until the leading edge 728 of the flap 720 is disengaged fromthe lip 785, after which the flap 720 is rotated to the open positionillustrated in FIG. 24. The flap 720 may be closed by rotating the flapback to its original position, and engaging the leading edge 725 of theflap 720 with lip 785.

As with the first embodiment, mutatis mutandis, the closure unit 700 mayoptionally be provided as a stand-alone unit, that is adapted as aretrofit device for any suitable container, or indeed as a generalpurpose closure device for an opening.

A typical dispenser-container according to an eighth embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 30 to 37. Thedispenser-container, generally designated 860, comprises a resealablecontainer 10, substantially as already described for the firstembodiment, mutatis mutandis, having an internal space that is filledwith articles to be dispensed, such as tissues and the like via opening20. According to the eighth embodiment, the container comprises aclosure unit 800 for reversibly sealably closing the dispensing aperture20. Thus, the closure unit 800 comprises a cover, cap or flap 820pivotably connected to a frame 840 via hinge arrangement 830.

The flap 820 is typically quasi elliptical or shell-like in plan view,for example as described for the seventh embodiment, mutatis mutandis,though it may be any other shape, for example as described for the otherembodiments herein, mutatis mutandis. Thus, for example, flap 820comprises an open box-like structure, having an upper panel 821 andcurved peripheral wall 823 and flat rear wall 824 joined to the panel821. In the illustrated embodiment, the major axis 890 of the flap (whenviewed in plan view) is substantially parallel to the rear wall 824, butin other embodiments, the major axis may be perpendicular to the rearwall 824. Furthermore, the flap 820 may optionally comprisesubstantially rounded concave corner portions 827 near the rear wall824. The flap 820 comprises a finger-grasping portion, which in theillustrated embodiment in the form of a hood-shaped portion 825comprising finger-tip recess 822 formed on the front part of peripheralwall 823.

The frame 840 is in a form that substantially fully circumscribes theperiphery of the lid 820, and is thus at least in part substantiallyelliptical. The frame 840 comprises a raised rib-like structure 850which comprises a curved portion 852 having an inner profilesubstantially complementary to the outer periphery of the peripheralwall 823, and a planar section 854 corresponding to the rear wall 824.The rib structure thus circumscribes the flap 820, when this is in theclosed position as will be described further herein, and circumscribesthe inner edge 844 of the frame 840.

The hinge arrangement 830 pivotably attaches the rear wall 824 of flap820 to the planar section 854 of the rib structure 850 of the frame 840.Optionally, the hinge arrangement 830 comprises a so-called ‘integralhinge’, allowing the flap 820 to deform and rotate about the hinge.Preferably, and as illustrated in FIGS. 30, 32, a ‘film hinge’ isprovided at 830, in which case the thickness of material at the filmhinge, particularly at the pivoting axis thereof, is a little less thanthat of the frame 840, and thus enables the cover flap 820 topreferentially pivot about this hinge. According to another embodiment(not shown), the hinge may be a non-integral hinge, e.g. formed from oneor more thin strips of material suitably bonded to the frame 840 and theflap 820.

The closure unit 800 of the eighth embodiment comprises a lockingarrangement 880 for reversibly locking the flap 820 with respect to theframe 840 in a substantially sealing manner. The locking arrangement 880according to this embodiment comprises a pair of tabs 885, one eachcomprised on either side of the portion 825 and joined to the lower edgeof the front part of peripheral wall 823.

As best seen in FIGS. 34, 36, 37, in the closed position of the flap 820with respect to the frame 840, the tabs 885 underlie correspondingportions 887 of the rib structure 850, and each tab 885 comprises one,preferably two, and optionally more than two projections 886. Prior tofirst use, the projections 885 are integrally joined to the underside ofthe rib structure 850, and these may serve as guarantee point. To usethe closure unit for the first time the user urges the flap 820 towardsthe container 10, and thus away from the frame 840, severing theconnection between the projections 886 and the rib structure 840. Whenit is desired to open the closure unit 800, the flap is pulled upwardsby means of the portion 825, and the resilience of the tabs 885 and flap820 enables these to temporarily deform as the tabs 885 maneuver aroundthe rib structure in contact therewith. Preferably, the flap 820 isfirst pushed in a rearwards direction towards the hinge arrangement 830so that the tabs 885 clear the frame member 840, before lifting the flap820 clear of the frame 840. When it is desired to close the flap 820,this is rotated about the hinge arrangement 830, until the tabs 885 aresnapped into position below the rib structure 850. When it is desired toopen the closure unit 800, the user presses the portion 825 upwards, orfirst in a direction towards the hinge arrangement 830. The resilienceof the closure unit 800, and/or the play allowed for in the hingearrangement 830, allow the tabs 885 to be disengaged from the ribstructure 850, and thus the flap 820 may be opened.

As with the seventh embodiment, the closure unit 800 is particularlycharacterized in that it may be manufactured using mold injectiontechniques, but with the advantage that this is done using molds thatare substantially smaller than those of the prior art, which reducescost and provides other advantages. Specifically, the closure unit 800may be injected molded in a substantially closed position, asillustrated in FIGS. 31 and 34, wherein the lid is joined to the ribstructure 850 via the hinge arrangement 830 at one side, and theprojections 886 on the other.

The mold injection process may carried out using an upper mold part anda lower mold part, which when they come together define an internalspace corresponding to the volume defined by the outer surfaces of theclosure unit 800. When a plastic or other suitable flowable material isallowed to fill this space using a suitable injection technique, andthen allowed to cool, a closure unit 800 according to the invention isproduced. According to this embodiment, the internal surfaces of theframe 840 and the flap 820 are presented as concavities, with all suchsurfaces being at an angle not greater than 90° to the horizontal.Furthermore, except for part of the tabs 885, no portion of the frame840 overlaps with the flap 820 in the vertical direction, and a gap 889is formed between the periphery of the flap 820 and the rib structure850. In fact, other than the tabs 885 and the corresponding engagingportion 887 on the underside of the rib structure 850, no other portionsof the unit 800 overlap with the any other portion of the unit 800 inthe vertical direction, i.e., normal to the plane of the frame 840.

A limited amount of overlapping in the vertical direction, between partsof the flap 820 and the frame 840, i.e., between the tabs 885 and thecorresponding engaging portions 887, is possible due to the resilienceof the material from which the closure unit 800 is made. Such a materialtypically comprises a plastic, such as for example polypropylene orpolyethylene, which can deform to a limited degree when force isapplied. Thus, although the parts of the molds required for the moldingof the tabs 885 and the corresponding engaging portion 887 also overlap,once cooled the closure unit 800 can be removed from the mold by forcinga partial and temporary deformation of the tabs 885 and/or thecorresponding engaging portion 887 to free these components from themolds.

Thus when referring herein to one component as not substantiallyoverlapping with respect to another component, this is herein taken toinclude the plain meaning, wherein there is no actual overlapping, andalso to optionally include cases wherein there is a limited amount ofactual overlapping, but such as still permits the closure unit to beremoved from the mold by making use of the resilience of the materialfrom which the closure unit is made to maneuver the overlapping partsaround parts of the molds to enable the closure unit to be freedtherefrom.

Typically, the overlapping portions between the tabs 885 and thecorresponding engaging portion 887, indicated at OP in FIG. 37, mayrepresent a plan area that is between 0-5% of the plan area of theclosure unit 800, more typically less than 1% thereof.

In the present embodiment, since the flap 820 is molded in the closedposition with respect to the frame 840, the plan area of the mold isabout half of what it would need to be if the flap 820 were at 180° tothe frame 840.

Thus, the flap 820 is pivotably connected to the frame 840 via the hingearrangement, and the closure unit 800 is formed having the flap 820initially at a forming angle with respect to the frame 840 taken aboutthe hinge arrangement, such that the forming angle is about 0°, and thussubstantially less than 180°.

Another advantage of molding the closure arrangement 800 in the closedposition is that it is ready to be attached to the unit to a package10—in the prior art, the flap needs to be rotated by 180° and thenclosed prior to attachment.

Alternatively, and as with the first embodiment, the structure of theclosure unit 800 is also such that it may be advantageously formed as anintegral unit of uniform thickness throughout, and may also bemanufactured by vacuum forming or any other suitable method that uses asuitable sheet material, typically a plastics material.

The underside of the frame 840 comprises an adhesive layer which enablethese parts of the unit 800 to be adhered to the container 10 such as tocircumscribe the opening 20, as illustrated in FIG. 30. Alternatively,these parts may be otherwise bonded to the container 10, for example byheat welding.

The closure unit 800 according to this embodiment is typically providedalready closed and bonded in this configuration to the container 10before it reaches the customer. Alternatively, the closure unit 800 maybe provided as a separate unit, to be mounted to the container 10 by thecustomer.

As has been described above, operation of the dispenser-container 860including the closure unit 800 is as follows. To open the closure unit800, the user can then push the portion 825 until the tabs 885 aredisengaged from the rib structure 850, after which the flap 820 isrotated to the open position illustrated in FIG. 30. The flap 820 may beclosed by rotating the flap back to its original position, and engagingthe tabs 885 with the underside of the rib structure 850.

As with the first embodiment, mutatis mutandis, the closure unit 800 mayoptionally be provided as a stand-alone unit, that is adapted as aretrofit device for any suitable container, or indeed as a generalpurpose closure device for an opening.

The present invention also relates to a mold for producing said closureunit of the present invention. The mold may be adapted for vacuumforming the closure unit from sheet material, typically thin plasticmaterial. Alternatively, the mold may be adapted for forming the closureunit by the injection of a suitable molten plastic or other suitablematerial.

It should be noted that the word “comprising” as used throughout theappended claims is to be interpreted to mean “including but not limitedto”.

While there has been shown and disclosed exemplary embodiments inaccordance with the invention, it will be appreciated that many changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A closure unit for a dispenser-container, comprising a frame memberdefining an opening and a flap member pivotably connected to said framemember about a hinge arrangement for selectively closing said opening,wherein said closure unit is initially formed having the flap member ata forming angle α with respect to the frame member taken about the hingearrangement, such that angle α is substantially less than 180°, andwherein said closure unit is initially formed in a manner such thatsubstantially no part of said flap member substantially overlaps anypart of said frame member in a direction substantially perpendicular tosaid opening.
 2. A closure unit according to claim 1, wherein said angleα is substantially 0°.
 3. A closure unit according to claim 1, whereinsaid unit is initially formed with said flap member in a substantiallyclosed position, and said flap member is adapted to be detached fromsaid frame member about a portion of a periphery of said flap membersuch as to enable said flap member to pivot with respect to said framemember via said hinge arrangement between a closed and an open position.4. A closure unit according to claim 3, wherein said flap membercomprises a box-like structure, having an upper panel and front, sideand rear walls extending therefrom to said border strip.
 5. A closureunit according to claim 4, wherein said hinge arrangement comprises amovable first hinge portion that is comprised on a mid section of saidrear wall, and a static second hinge portion that forms part of midsection of the inner base strip.
 6. A closure unit according to claim 5,wherein said flap member comprises at least two projections formaintaining the flap member in the open position.
 7. A closure unitaccording to claim 1, wherein said hinge arrangement comprises any oneof an integral hinge, a film hinge, or a non-integral hinge.
 8. Aclosure unit according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises araised rib structure for mechanically stiffening said unit.
 9. A closureunit according to claim 8, wherein said rib structure comprises asubstantially hollow inverted U-shaped cross-section.
 10. A closure unitaccording to claim 3, wherein said flap member is temporarily joined tosaid frame member via break lines prior to a first use of said closureunit, wherein said break lines are adapted for tearing when said flapmember is pulled from said frame member with a predetermined force. 11.A closure unit according to claim 10, wherein said break lines arepre-weakened with respect to the frame member and the flap member.
 12. Aclosure unit according to claim 3, wherein said frame membersubstantially circumscribes said flap member.
 13. A closure unitaccording to claim 12, wherein said frame member is formed having afoldable tab projecting from said frame member in a longitudinaldirection opposed to said flap member and hinge arrangement, saidfoldable tab being foldable about a hinge line to a position wherein aportion of said frame member is superposed with respect to said foldabletab.
 14. A closure unit according to claim 13, wherein said foldable tabcomprises a locking arrangement.
 15. A closure unit according to claim14, wherein said locking arrangement comprises at least one firstlatching member adapted for engagement with a corresponding secondlatching member comprised in said flap member.
 16. A closure unitaccording to claim 15, wherein said first latching member is adapted forbeing reversibly locked with respect to said second latching member. 17.A closure unit according to claim 16, wherein said first latching membercomprises a protrusion of increasing cross-section in a direction awayfrom said frame member when in the closed position and wherein saidsecond latching member comprises a recess of increasing cross-section ina direction away from said frame member when in the closed position, atleast a portion of said recess being complementary to a portion of saidprotrusion.
 18. A closure unit according to claim 17, wherein at leastone of said portion of said recess and said portion of said protrusionare elastically deformable to permit selective locking of said firstlatching member with said second latching member.
 19. A closure unitaccording to claim 3, wherein: (a) said frame member comprises a breaktherein adapted for accommodating a bridge joining a tab to said flapmember, said tab comprising a locking arrangement; (b) said lockingarrangement comprises first locking means for locking said tab memberwith respect to said bridge, and second locking means for reversiblylocking said flap member with respect to said frame member; (c) saidbridge comprises a fold line for folding said tab member over saidbridge to provide locking engagement for said first locking means, andsaid first locking means comprises suitable first male locking partscomprised on said bridge, and first female locking parts comprised onsaid tab member; (d) said bridge is temporarily joined to said framemember via break lines prior to a first use of said closure unit,wherein said break lines are adapted for tearing when said tab is pulledfrom said frame member with a predetermined force; and (e) wherein saidtab is temporarily joined to said frame member via break lines prior toa first use of said closure unit, wherein said break lines are adaptedfor tearing when said tab is pulled from said frame member with apredetermined force.
 20. A closure unit according to claim 1, whereinsaid flap further comprises a finger grasping portion, wherein saidclosure unit is initially formed in a manner such that substantially nopart of said finger grasping portion substantially overlaps any part ofsaid frame member in a direction substantially perpendicular to saidopening.
 21. A closure unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit isformed as an integral unit.
 22. A closure unit according to claim 1,wherein said unit is formed from sheet material.
 23. A closure unitaccording to claim 22, wherein said sheet material has a thickness thatis substantially uniform.
 24. A closure unit according to claim 23,wherein said unit is formed as a vacuum-formed or heat-formed article.25. A closure unit for a dispenser-container, comprising a frame memberdefining an opening and a flap member for selectively closing saidopening, said flap member being initially formed with said frame memberin a substantially closed position and adapted to be detached from saidframe member about a portion of a periphery of said flap such as toenable said flap to pivot with respect to said frame member via a hingearrangement between a closed and an open position, wherein said closureunit is initially formed from suitable sheet material.
 26. Adispenser-container for dispensing a plurality of tissues or the likesequentially, comprising a container having a dispensing opening forremoving said tissues, and further comprising a closure unit accordingto claim 1 fixed to said container in overlying relationship withrespect to said opening such that when the closure unit is in the openposition the opening is accessible and when the closure unit is in theclosed position, the opening is substantially closed.
 27. A mold forproducing a closure unit, wherein said closure unit is as defined inclaim
 1. 28. A mold according to claim 27, wherein the mold is adaptedfor vacuum forming said closure unit from suitable sheet material.